CVE-2007-2789 in JDK
Summary
by MITRE
The BMP image parser in Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) before 1.5.0_11-b03 and 1.6.x before 1.6.0_01-b06, and Sun Java Runtime Environment in JDK and JRE 6, JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 10 and earlier, SDK and JRE 1.4.2_14 and earlier, and SDK and JRE 1.3.1_19 and earlier, when running on Unix/Linux systems, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (JVM hang) via untrusted applets or applications that open arbitrary local files via a crafted BMP file, such as /dev/tty.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2789 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the BMP image parsing functionality of various Sun Java runtime environments. This issue affects multiple versions of the Java Development Kit and Runtime Environment across different operating systems, with particular severity on Unix and Linux platforms where the vulnerability manifests through improper handling of malformed BMP image files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the image parsing component that fails to properly sanitize file paths and content when processing bitmap images, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the Java Virtual Machine's image processing capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Java runtime's image parser failing to properly validate file paths when processing BMP files, particularly when these files reference system device files such as /dev/tty. When a malicious BMP file is processed, the parser attempts to open and read these device files without proper sanitization, leading to resource exhaustion and subsequent JVM hangs. This behavior occurs because the BMP parser does not adequately check for or restrict access to special device files that could cause the JVM to block indefinitely while attempting to read from these system resources. The flaw essentially creates a path traversal condition where arbitrary file access is permitted through crafted image files, bypassing normal file system access controls and system security boundaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to cause significant disruption in Java-based applications and web applets running on affected systems. The denial of service condition results in complete JVM hangs that can persist for extended periods, effectively rendering the affected Java applications and systems unavailable to legitimate users. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web environments where applets are executed, as attackers can craft malicious BMP files that automatically trigger the vulnerability when opened by unsuspecting users. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially affecting entire application servers and enterprise systems that rely on Java runtime environments for critical operations, with no indication of a complete system crash but rather a functional hang that requires manual intervention to resolve.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-400, which covers resource exhaustion. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service, and T1059.007, which involves application layer execution through Java applets. The attack vector typically involves delivering a malicious BMP file through web content or trusted applications, where the Java runtime environment automatically processes the image file, triggering the vulnerable code path and causing the JVM to hang. Organizations running affected Java versions should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to patched versions, while also considering network-level mitigations such as content filtering to prevent execution of untrusted image files. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict Java applet execution policies, particularly in web environments where users might encounter untrusted content that could exploit this vulnerability.